GEORge WASHINGTON CARVER b. January, 1864 d. January 5, 1943 SCIENTIST George Washington “Where there is no vision, Carver is best known there is no hope.” for his advances in George Washington Carver was a groundbreaking agricultural scientist, known for the agricultural field. discovering innovative uses for peanuts, sweet potatoes and clay. A black man born He devised and taught during the Civil War, Carver overcame racism to establish himself as a preeminent impoverished farmers scientist and renowned academic. uses for nutritious, Carver was born a slave in southwest Missouri. As an infant, he was kidnapped by slave commonly grown crops. raiders, and then abandoned when they discovered he suffered from whooping cough. His mother’s former owners, Moses and Susan Carver, adopted and raised him. At the age of 13, Carver left home to attend a school for African-Americans. In 1890, he matriculated to Simpson College in Iowa, where he was the only black student. In 1891, he transferred to Iowa State College to focus on his passion for agriculture. After graduating, he served as the only black member of the Iowa State faculty. Carver was invited to head the agriculture department at the Tuskegee Institute, a university for black students founded by Booker T. Washington. As a professor, Carver encouraged students to think creatively and independently. He emphasized self- RESS NG sufficiency and resilience, and he pursued broad O F C interests, including painting and religion. Throughout O Y his life, he maintained a positive approach. Even in the RAR B I face of overt racism, Carver said, “I can’t do my work if © L my heart is bitter.” Carver is best known for his advances in the agricultural field. He devised and taught impoverished farmers uses for nutritious, commonly grown crops. He was the first scientist to discover multiple uses for peanuts, developing products as diverse as flour, ink and face cream. He experimented with developing rubber from the sweet potato. Carver’s discoveries are seen as the basis for many products, including biofuels and fruit- based cleaning products. In 1916, Carver was offered membership in the Royal Society of London. In 1923, he was awarded a Spingarn Medal by the NAACP. Simpson College awarded him an honorary degree in 1932. www.glbtHistoryMonth.com Copyright © 2010 – A Project of Equality Forum.